Bend in the River (Author Interview)

Bend in The River, looks like a great coming of age story. Any plans for this to be part of a series? Not at the present.

What do you think makes a great story? Something relatable. In this case it's a young boy who feels different and is bullied, in 1847 Wellsville, Ohio.

What inspired you when writing Bend in The River? I visited the River Museum in Wellsville, Ohio and was taken with the beauty of the location and history.

What are your ambitions for your writing career? Full time? Part time? I love writing. I like to think of myself, not as an author, but a storyteller. I love telling a good story. I would be happy writing full time.

When did you decide to become a writer? I never really decided to become a writer. I retired after 38 years of assembly line factory work. I wrote a story for my husband and when it was finished he prompted me to send it to a publisher, in 2010. In 2011 my first novel, "SAVING DIANA" was published and I have gone on to publish 2 - 3 novels a year since then with 16 to date.

When writing Bend in The River did anything stand out as particularly challenging? It involved some research as it was a fictional story written around a real town with historic connections.

How did you come up with the story of Bend in The River? I was so taken by the town of Wellsville, Ohio. I grew up listening to stories told by my father and grand-father. I began writing about Jack Gideon living in historic Wellsville and thought as a boy, storytelling would be the entertainment of the day. Telling a story about a drunken whaler with one leg would be something a boy Jack's age would love.

What do you like to do when not writing? Visiting with my grandchildren and Great-grandchildren. I love kids. I love to watch their faces when you start telling them a story. I told stories to my daughter, my grandsons, and now to my great-grandsons. They love it and I love the time with them.